Electrical signaling and indicating means



Sept. 22, 1936. T H M 2,054,955

' ELECTRICAL SIGNALING AND INDICATING MEANS Filed Oct. 19, 1?:54 2 Sheets-Sheet l Sept. 22, 1936. J. STEPHAM ELECTRICAL SIGNALING AND INDICATING MEANS Filed Oct. 19, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.5.

Fig. 4.

Patented Sept. 22, 1936 "UNITED STATES 7 2,054,955 ELECTRICAL SIGNALI M NG AND INDIGATING EANS I Jack Stcpham, Lewisham, England Application October 19, 1934, Serial No. 749,115

7 In Great Britain October 19, 1933 4 Claims.

In. order to enable a person calling upon the occupant of .a room, oflice or apartment, or the clerk of the-occupant to apprise the occupier of his desire .to enter and at the same time receive an =5 intimation as towhether the occupier is for the time being engaged, disengaged or out electrical signaling and indicating apparatus have already been devised. Such apparatus has usuallycomprised, externally of the room, a compart- 1 f mented indicator box having a press button and a series of electric lamps adapted when the press.

The present invention which concerns signal- 20- ing and indicating apparatus of the kind just mentioned has for its object to provide :an improved combination of components so arranged as to furn-ish a compact, simpleand efficient appliance with which two-way signaling can be 2 i effected-positively and visual indications given to aicaller or attendant as to the condition of the occupant whether engaged, disengaged or out. .It is also an object of the invention to provide :such .an apparatus wherein the actuation of a signal within the room of occupant will normally be suppressed in the event ofthe occupant being engaged, supplementary means beinglalso ,provided whereby such a signal can however .be transmitted in the event of circum- 35 stances rendering it desirable or imperative.

The invention is hereinafter more fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings, -wherein: V

Fig. '1 is a plan view of one-of the fittings com- 40 prised in the improved arrangement for indicating-and signaling.

Fig. 12 is a transverse section of the same taken on the line 2-2 inFig. 1. r

.Fig. :3is aninvertedplan view of the case with the base detached in order to show certain internal parts- Fig. 4- is a front elevation of the indicator fitting comprised in the arrangement.

t Fig. 6 is a rear elevation of the same with the back removed and Fig; 7 is a sectional plan taken on the line 'l'l indicated in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 shows diagrammatically the various parts included-in theinstallation and the manner in 5 which they are interconnected electrically.

The arrangement illustrated inthese drawings may of course be usefully applied'in many different situations but for convenience in descrip tion it is proposed to consider the installation as 10' oneapplied for signaling between an, occupant hereinafter called the principal, and his secretary, hereinafter called thev attendant. The fitting shown in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive is located withinthe-principalszroo-m' whilst the apparatus shown in; Figs. 4 to '7 inclusive is located in the attendants quarters.

Referring now to Figs; 1 to 3 of the drawings it will beseen that-the 'principals fitting comprises a casing 01. of wood'or other suitable material, which encloses an electro-magneticbuzzerb or hell, a three position selector switch 0, a press button switch at, and if desired a dry battery e constituting the source of energy for operating the installation. .25

An indicating plate 7 affixed externally of the casing a and bearing markings such for example as the words disengaged, engaged and out. is arranged to co-aetwith an index mark 0 on the operating knob of the selector switch 0 in showing the various active positions of the latter. The selector switch 0 which in its three operative positions engages one or other of three contact plates g, h, iand the press button switch (1 may for convenience be mounted in the top wall of the casing 11. as shown while the buzzer b may be afliXed to the base a of the casing which is preferably removable to enable the battery to be replaced by a new one when necessary, said battery being held in position between the 40 base a and two fixed-blocks 7 7' which latter serve also tolimit-the angular motion of the selector switch arm. 7

This combination of components is connected through a multi-way cablein the manner indicated diagrammatically in Fig. 8 to a complementary appliance as shown in'Figs. 4 to '7 provided for the use of the attendant. This latter appliance comprises a glass fronted casing 70 divided internally into three superposed com partments l, m and n, each of which is occupied by a miniature electric lamp, Z m and n adapted to give a distinctive indication as for example by illuminating an indicative marking cut in a stencil plate arranged behind the glass front. For the purpose in question it will be found convenient if the lamps be arranged to illuminate and display separately on the glass front the words enter engaged and out respectively. For this purpose a stencil sheet with appropriate lettering cut in it may be disposed behind the glass front of the casing is, a sheet of thin white paper or like material being interposed between the stencil and the glass to render the indicia invisible except when illuminated from behind.

The lamps may for convenience be supported in holders Z m 72 mounted upon a common batten T which is secured within the casing to the rear of two partitions s and t which separate the adjacent compartments one from another. Moreover, the separate compartments may be closed at the rear by reflecting walls Z m and n composed of white card or other appropriate material.

The casing also contains an electro-magnetic buzzer or bell o and two press button switches p and q hereinafter referred to as primary and secondary push buttons respectively, these being adapted and arranged for manipulation as later described. For convenience in use each of the two casings mentioned is connected by way of a multi-wire flexible conductor (not shown) to a wall box or plate indicated at w in Fig. 8, and

plates. It should here be mentioned that the connection between the appliances may in some cases be permanent whereas in other instances, as for example where a single attendant waits upon two or more principals, it may be more convenient to introduce a system of change-over switches or plugs and jacks to enable the connections to be modified as and when required.

Fig. 8 shows clearly the electrical connections made between the various components comprised in a system, the parts on the left-hand side of the diagram being those included in the principals appliance whereas those on the right-hand side of the diagram represent those included in the attendants appliance. 1

It will be seen from Figure 8 that one element of the push button switch (1 is connected by wire Ill to the battery e and by the wire or conductor H to the selector switch arm 0, this arm 0 being thus connected to the positive pole of the battery. The other element of the switch (1 is connected by wire l2 through the wall box w and cable to one electrode of lamp Z which indicates the word enter and this wire I2 is connected by wire [3 to the buzzer or audible signal 1), the other side of the buzzer '0 being connected by wire M to the other electrode of lamp Z. This electrode of lamp 1' is connected by a wire l5 to one element of the switch p and by wire 24 to the negative terminal of battery e. The contact i'is connected by wire is to the lamp 12 (indicating out) which lamp is connected by wire l9 to one element of the switch 10. The contact plate h is connected by wire 29 to one side of the lamp m (indicating engaged) and by wire 2! to one element of the switch q, the other element of the switch q being connected to contact plate g by a wire 22 and thence to the buzzer b by wire I1. The lamps m and n are connected in series by a wire 23. From the junction of wire 15 with switch 19 extends a return wire 24 which leads to the negative pole of the battery e. The other pole or point of switch p is connected by wire it to one side of buzzer b, the other side of the buzzer b being connected by wire H to contact g.

In the operation of this signaling mechanism,.

we will presume that the principal is either engaged or disengaged, that consequently, he has set the switch arm 0 on contacts h or 9. Assuming the selector switch 0 is on contact h, then if the principal wishes to call the attendant or clerk, he presses the button 11. A circuit will then be completed from the battery e through switch d by wires [2 and 53 to the buzzer o, by wires M and I5 to one point of the switch p and back by wire 24 to the battery e. The same circuit will be completed if the switch arm 0 be on the contact 9. Thus the principal can communicate with the clerk in the other room by the buzzer 11 whether the switch arm c is on contact h or on contact 9.

Presuming that the principal is disengaged and wishes to indicate to the clerk that he is disengaged in case a caller comes in or in case the clerk desires to communicate with him, the principal sets the switch arm 0 on contact plate g. Now if the clerk desires to introduce a caller or see the principal himself, he closes switch 11 which closes the circuit from the negative pole of the battery by wire 24 through wire Hi to, the buzzer b and through wire [l to the contact 9' and from contact g through contact arm c to'the positive pole of the battery through return wire 26 and back to the switch p. This energizes the buzzer b and thus gives an audible signal to the principal that someone desires admission. Now if the principal is willing to have the caller or clerk admitted, he presses button d which closes the circuit from the battery through wire l2 to lamp Z, (illuminating the word enter)' thence to switch p which the clerk is holding depressed, and back to the battery by conductor 24. V

Presuming that theprincipal is engaged, he

places the switch arm c on contact plate It. It

now the clerk closes the switch 10, the buzzer I) does not sound because the circuit through the buzzer is open at switch q, but the closing of; switch p closes the circuit from battery e through conductors I9, II, switcharm 0, plate h, wire 20 to lamp m (illuminating the word engaged) through wires 23 and I9 through closed switch 11 and back through the wire 24 to the battery. Thus, the word engaged isdisplayed upon the indicator but the principal is not annoyed by the sounding of any buzzer or by any indication that a caller is waiting.

If now the clerk, notwithstanding that the principal is engaged, wishes to call the attention.

of the principal to the fact that an important caller is waiting who should be seen, if possible, he not only holds switch 12 depressed or again depresses switch 1), but he also simultaneously depresses or closes switch q and this closes the circuit through the buzzer b, which circuit includes the battery, wires ID and II, switch arm 0,

sweetest word? .out.:) day wire F19 -toiswitch ili-Eand back by wire ZA 'toi-thebattery. 1 .7 1 In consequence of'rthefiarrangement of thereon nections the followingie'ffe'cts are obtained. iRegardlesscof.the.positions'occupied'rby the selector switch :0, :depreSsion of the principals 1 push :button switch will operate Ithe iattendantl's'ibuz'z'erior .bellv and. at the same time light'tthedampxl iren- :dering vi'sibleithe'indication"ienterf. The selector switch c on the :prin'cipaRs-.aappliance isr however intendedxio he :pres-set :in' one of iits lthree positionsaccording to mrh'ethe'r 'ihe risaforthe time being :disengaged, 'engaged'lor :iout, and although the'tsettingo-f this switch does notiitsel'f give rise ,touany znoticeable effects itserves to ensure the required indications being obtained at the cattendants appliancelwhen the primary "push button p thereon is depressed. .t .Thus .assumingthe selector switchis set to the fdisengagediposition,iinwhich case its arm will engage rthe contact zplate g, and subsequently the primaryipush button :p on the attendant s-applian'ce be ."depressed, this :action will result in the principalsbuzzer or bell b being sounded, whereupon hernayisigna'l back to the attendanflby depression of .his own-push button d ii he is prepared-to admit. if, on ithevcontra'ry, the :selector switch 0 be set to ithe engaged :pos'ition, viz. with its arm engaged with' the'contact plate h, depression of the attendants primary :push 'buttonEp will cause the illumination o'f the engaged indicator bylighting the lamp m but will not operate the :principals signaling device b. ":In this way thelattendant is at once in'formed of the principals engaged condition and'" without causinguanyfdisturbance -to the principal. If in these circumstances the attendant in view of the urgency of the matter finds it imperative to signal the principal the secondary push button q is depressed simultaneously with the push button 11, whereupon the engaged indication is given to the attendant as already described but the principals signaling device b is also sounded.

When the selector switch 0 is set to the out position, viz. with its arm engaged with the contact plate 1', operation of the attendants primary push button p will merely cause the illumination of the lamp n bringing the attendants out indicator into view while the principals signaling device I) will remain inoperative.

One of the particularly advantageous features of the arrangement which I have illustrated and described, is that the principal when engaged is not in any way disturbed by audible signals, even though the clerk closes the button switch p. Nevertheless, if the clerk realizes the business of the newcomer is urgent and it be imperative that the principal be warned, a ringing signal can be transmitted to the principal by the depression of both button switches 10 and q simultaneously. It

will be seen that the princip als buzzer, hell or other audible signal is free to be operated by the normal switch key p only in the event of the selector switch standing at the disengaged position. When the principal is already engaged, he can be left undisturbed while the clerk, by operating the switch 12 .ascertains that this is the case and thus, under ordinary circumstances, callers arriving while the principal is engaged and seeing the word engaged displayed, are satisfied and readily induced to wait. Where, however, a

callers business is of suflicient urgency to warrant an interruption, a signal can be transmitted to the principal by the use of both switches p and q simultaneously.

anism to be so 'used thata clerk or attendant i's in charge of the indicator mechanism show-n in the signal himseltwith'out the intermedlationfof a clerk, and that this "systemmight *also be us'ed betweenan employer and an employee, so -'tha';t

itlreiemployee can. find out whether the employer "is engaged or 1 disengaged 'or out; or --whereby -the employer may find out whetherthe employee ls engaged :ordisengaged "orout. Thus, there are tm'any uses' to which this 1 signaling-system {maybe fput.

It should :be remembered that the battery or 'other' source of energy may' be located at any poiritidesired' without afiecting the invention and moreover if desired more than two fittings may beicombined in a common system. Thus for example it may in some instances :be convenient to connect fittings in a 'number'of 'rooms to indicators at a single pointer "vice versa and'in other cases the 'fittings may beanadepo'rtable and connected 'aslrequire'd to-a system of :wiring extending throughout the premises where the apparatus -isto be used. I 3 I"'claim:- v l. A 'signaling apparatus "for use-'between two separate "roo'm s -including -'a signal in one *room having aplurality (if-signs, said signsindicati'ng inReflect,respectively, that *a-party in the other room is engage-d, disengaged or 'out, an eaten 'tion attracting indicator in the other room, "a

selector switch in the lastnamedfroornadapted to be'set to-pre'pare a 'circuit through the larn'ps of any one o'f 'sa id signs and "sourceo'f current, means including a switch in "the 'firstnanred room which when closed completes said circuit through the lamp of the previously selected sign, and. means including a second switch in the first named room which when closed at the same time that the last named switch is closed completes a circuit through the attention attracting indicator in the second named room and a source of current, said last named switch being incapable of closing said last circuit unless the other switch in the same room is closed and unless said selector switch is set to prepare that circuit which includes the lamp of the engaged sign.

2. A signaling apparatus for use between two separate rooms including a signal in oneroom having a plurality of signs, the signs indicating, respectively, that a party in the other room is engaged, disengaged or out, an audible signal in the said first named room, a selector switch in the second room to prepare a circuit through the lamp of any one of said signs, means in the second room for closing a circuit through the audible signal in the first named room without regard to the position of the lamp circuit controlling means, an audible signal in the second named room, means including a switch in the first named room which when closed completes a circuit through the previously selected signal lamp and a source of current to thus cause the display of the previously selected signal, and means including a second switch in the first named room which when closed coincidently with the last named switch closes a circuit through the audible signal in the second room and a source of current, the second switch of the first named room being inoperative to close said circuit unless the other switch of the first named room has been closed and unless the selector switch in the second room isclosed to prepare that circuit which includes the lamp of the engaged sign.

3. A signaling apparatus for use between an office and an ante-room including a signal unit in the ante-room, the unit including three electrically energized signs, a. pair of switches associated with said unit and each including a pair of relatively movable switch points, a selective switch in the oince which includes a contact for each sign and a switch blade movable for selective engagement with one or the other of the contacts, a source of electrical potential having one side electrically connected with said blade, a second switch in said oflice having two relatively movable points, one of which is electrically connected with one side of the source of potential, anelectrical connection leading from the other point of the last named switch through one sign to the other side of said source of potential and including one point of one of said pairs of -switches, a signal in said ofiice, an electrical connection from one side of the last named signal to one point of the other one of the pair of switches in the ante-room and including in said connection one selector contact, an electrical connection leading from the other point of the said other one of the pair of switches to one side of the second sign and to a second selector switch contact, an electrical connection leading from the other side of saidlast named signal to andthrough the other point of thefirst mentioned one of the pair of switches to one side of a third sign and to the other side of the second sign, and an electrical connection leading from the other side of the third sign to the third selector switch contact.

4; Asignaling apparatus for use between an ofiice and an ante-room, including three electrically energized signs in the ante-room, an audible electrically actuated signal element included in said unitwhich is electrically con- 7 nected across one sign, a pair of switches assoother room having two relatively movable points one of which is electrically connected with said one side of the source of potential, an electrical connection leading from the other point of the last mentioned switch through one sign to the other side'of said source of potential and including one point of one of said pair of switches, a signal in said other room, an electrical connection from one side of the last signal to one point of the other one of the pair, of switches and including one selector switch contact therein, an electrical connection leading from the other point of the said other one of the pair of switches to one side of a second sign and to a second selector switch contact, an electrical connection leading from the other side of said last signal to and through the other point of the first mentioned one of the pair of switches to one side of a third'sign and tothe other side of the second sign, and an electrical connection leading from the other side of the third sign to the third selector switch contact.

7 JACK STEPHAM. 

